North Dakota Native Vote traveled to Klamath, California last week for the annual Native American Grassroots Democracy Conference. Each year the conference is held at a new location, this year it was held near the beautiful black sand beach and by the giant red wood trees in Klamath.
The coalitions met at the tribally owned Holiday Inn conference room in Yurok and discussed our work during the election season. We went over our wins, losses, what we did that worked well and reflected on what we could improve the next election cycle then shared ideas and feedback. We also learned about the land we were on from a local who came to talk to us during our supper breaks and from the travel center.
It was an insightful conference, and a much-needed destination retreat for the NDNV team. Unfortunately, we had to leave a bit early to avoid the bomb cyclone that was rolling in to the area, but we are thankful for the time with our friends who do the same and/or similar type of work from all around the United States.
Tribally Led Coalition Advocates for Maah Daah Hey National Monument in the North Dakota Badlands
We’re proud to partner with Badlands Conservation Alliance, Maah Daah Hey Coalition (which includes the Three Affiliated Tribes, Standing Rock Sioux, Spirit Lake Nation), Dakota Resource Council, North Dakota Wildlife Federation, and North Dakota Sierra Club in support of an incredible initiative: the designation of the Maah Daah Hey National Monument!
We are urging the President to designate over 139,000 acres of the Dakota Prairie Grasslands in the Little Missouri River basin as a National Monument under the Antiquities Act. This historic effort will protect the natural beauty, delicate ecosystems, and Indigenous cultural heritage of the North Dakota Badlands for generations to come.
If designated, the Maah Daah Hey National Monument would:
Protect 11 non-motorized backcountry areas in western North Dakota.
Preserve centuries-old Indigenous cultural practices and honor the region’s rich history.
Safeguard critical wildlife habitats and maintain the land’s backcountry character.
Foster sustainable tourism and economic growth in harmony with nature and heritage.
This initiative is about justice, respect, and connection to ancestral lands. As Lisa Finley-DeVille, DRC and Fort Berthold POWER member, beautifully stated:
“The North Dakota Badlands are an important landscape to Indigenous people throughout the region. I am trying to find ways to bring my people back to the land and educate our children about our ancestral ties to the land. Designating the Maah Daah Hey National Monument would ensure Indigenous people can return with pride to our ancestral lands in western North Dakota. It would also allow for non-Indigenous people to learn our history and our ties to the beautiful North Dakota Badlands.”
Join us in this vital effort to protect this sacred landscape and ensure it remains a source of pride and inspiration for all. To learn more about the initiative please visit: protectmdh.com
For more information contact:
Representative Lisa Finley-DeVille
701-421-8020
lisadeville2013@gmail.com
Shannon Straight
701-450-1631
bca@badlandsconservationalliance.org
in acknowledgment of the Thanksgiving holiday tomorrow
Thank you for your continued support and dedication to our shared mission.
Pilamayaye! Wopida! Maacagiraac! Miigwetch!
Please consider donating to NDNV this upcoming Giving Tuesday.
